The big man that can catch the ball on the low block and score over his shoulder in the painted area is a dying breed. With the changing times that is the sport of basketball, something that has trickled down from the NBA level and all of the way to the high school realm, throwback big men are rare to find. This past week in Providence, Kalif Young is one of those types, a guy that is now seeing his recruitment pick up heavily.

A 6-foot-8 big man out of Canada, Young runs with the Orangeville Prep bunch. A very talented group coached by Larry Blunt, the staff at the Canadian program has set up most of its system around Young. They can pass him the ball on the block and expect for him to make the proper decisions with it. Whether it is turning and facing the basket prior to the mid-range jumper attempt, scoring on lefty hooks, or using his quality vision in hitting the open teammate on the perimeter, there definitely is a lot of value with the low post asset.

On Monday, Marquette joined the fray by offering the product of the CIA Bounce program. The Big East program joins such others as Providence, Pittsburgh, Auburn, and St. Bonaventure’s who have already done so. Further interest is coming by way of Duke and Syracuse and over the weekend, Ed Cooley and two Providence assistants, along with coaches from Syracuse, Auburn, and St. Bonaventure’s were all in the gym to see him at the National Prep School Invitational.

Having yet to take an official visit, it would seem that the recruitment of Young will last into the spring, especially with more schools just now getting involved with him. There are a few things that the Orangeville Prep center is looking for in a future home. “Development, on and off the floor, is very important to me,” Young told HoopSeen. “I am looking at the fit and where I can work and develop to be the best that I can be.”

While further conditioning and a more polished face-up jumper game is in need for further tweaking, there is no questioning the steady uptick in Young’s recruitment that will continue to commence as more eyes are placed on the big man during his final year of prep play this winter.